Erin's rushed steps reduced to sauntering when she approached some maids, and a train of, "Good evening, my lady," followed each other, which she responded with a small smile. Once she was away from them, she increased her pace, taking the right turn that led to the twin staircase. Various paintings of generations of kings hung on the wall. An empty spot beside her father's painting caught her attention, and she stood in front of it, reaching a hand to feel the smoothness of the wall which was coated in navy blue paint. Someday, when she is crowned as Queen, her painting would be occupy that space. Her heart was constricted in her chest, and her breath caught up in her throat when she thought about all the responsibilities that came with ascending the throne as Queen. Her stomach churned, and she recoiled, pulling her hand back and holding it to her chest. "Why does it feel like the weight of the world will be on my shoulders when I turn Queen?" Erin asked herself, rubbing her shou
"Oh, yeah," she tittered, and a sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead as her mind raced. "I meant animal blood.""You reek of lies," Mark pointed out, eyeing her from over his lashes. Erin's forehead creased, and displeasure washed over her. "Excuse me, I will not have you stand here and insult me." Mark pressed his lips into a grim line. "I said humans because I saw two of them sucking each other's faces," Erin lied, glaring at the shadow lord before her. He cast a look of scepticism at her, twisting his mouth to the side and parting his lips to say a word, but he swallowed his protest, snapping his mouth shut. "Do you want to call me a liar again?" Erin glowered, pushing her brows up in askance. Erin watched as Mark stared down at her with a stoic expression etched to his face. "If you think I am lying, then I can show you the humans, who were about to get naughty before I decided to retrace my steps to a different route," she explained, but Mark only stared at her as if h
Duncan Mirthon"Yeah," Duncan moved to the side, quietly inviting her into his room. She walked into the room, tilting her head down in sadness. Duncan closed his door and rubbed the back of his neck, eyeing her. "How are you?" Duncan asked, and she shoved her hands into the pocket of her parka, hanging her head down. "I am not doing fine," she started in a shaky voice. "I feel like throwing up," she stated, pulling out a hand to place on her forehead. "And I-"Hilda halted in her tracks, and Duncan's eyes enlarged when he saw her sway a little on the balls of her feet. He rushed toward her and held her waist, gently placing her to sit on the bed. "Are you okay?" Duncan inquired in a worried murmur. She shook her head before her cheeks became full, and her eyes bulged. Her hand flew up her face to palm her mouth, and she jumped off the bed, dashing to the bathroom. Duncan went after her and caught sight of her crouching before the toilet and wrenching out her gut. He walked clo
"Give me a minute to put on a shirt," Duncan said, spinning and dashing into the room. "What happened?" Hildergard worried, following him to his closet. "I have something urgent to attend to," he stated, putting a black shirt over his head and taking fast strides back to his door. "You should get enough rest, I will be back soon.""No." Hildergard shook her head, making a beeline to him and saying, "I also want to come with you.""You need rest. You were in pretty bad shape yesterday, and I do not want anything to affect you more than what happened had affected you," Duncan creased his brows, throwing a death glare at her, but it didn't seem to move her. Hildergard parted her lips to protest, but Duncan gripped her shoulders firmly and stared into her eyes. "Sit at home and let my maids take care of you. When I return, I will update you.""Then I will go with you," Lara stated, and they both directed their eyes at her. Duncan puckered his forehead, causing Lara to shrug and ask, "
Erin Grendel "What are you talking about?" Amelia questioned, puckering her forehead into a frown of confusion. "You know very well. Why have you been stealing portions from Aunt Kayla's portions?" Erin requested an answer. "It is none of your business," Amelia hissed, returning her gaze to view Aunt Kayla. "I am sorry, but I promise to take permission next time."Feeling insulted, Erin tightened her dental bone, getting a knack of a faint headache."Amelia, watch your tone. I am your elder sister and heir to the throne. I will not tolerate you talking to me in such a manner that not even our parents use," Erin warned Amelia, drilling a hole into her sister's forehead with her eyes. "Girls, girls," Aunt Kayla began, stepping in as a mediator. "There is no need to fight, I have already sorted everything out. There, there, Erin."She patted my back, thumbing my chin and angling my head to view her. Erin was a tad taller than Aunt Kayla, but Aunt Kayla was thick like their mother and
She held her breath and pushed herself up, getting her head out of the water. "Duncan?!" She gasped, taking in deep breaths at the presence of oxygen. Her eyes were sore as the result of the water that swam into them. She spat a mouthful of it, using her hand to wipe off the water residue from her face. "Here I come!" His voice reverberated throughout the lake, sending birds out of their trees. Erin glanced at him, watching as he folded himself into a ball and jumper into the water. It rippled, splashing everywhere, even on Erin, resulting in the spread of goosebumps over her entire body. A smile forced its way onto Erin's lips, but she bit her bottom lip to seal it. Erin scanned the lake for Duncan, but she didn't see him. She turned, searching warily for him. "Duncan?" Erin voiced softly, darting her eyes from side to side. "What is this game of hide and seek you play?""Missing me already?" Duncan questioned, spring from under the water and encasing her in a warm embrace. H
Duncan Mirthon "And who is that?" He inquired, getting off her and staring at the bush with a scrunched up face. "Lord of all of my kind," Erin panicked, pulse racing. "You should leave.""Why?" Duncan questioned. His jaw grew tight as he narrowed his gaze at the bush. "He will kill you," Erin whispered, rising to her feet and holding Duncan's hand. "You should leave.""But, would it not be a good thing for me to tell him you are indeed mynmate?" Duncan tore his gaze from the distance. Erin blanched, furiously shaking her head in disagreement. "He would not spare you. I am sure he is with his men. You are not with any, and I do not want to lose you again, Darcy." Her voice shook as she channelled a pleading gaze at him. "Who is this Darcy you speak of?" Duncan's frown deepened with the knitting of his brows. Erin snapped her head to the right, and Duncan mirrored her movement, sighting thousands of bats flying from afar. The birds flew away from their trees, screeching. "Leave
Duncan's forehead puckered, and he squinted his eyes, waiting for her to speak further. "Did you see or notice anything?" Duncan asked her, and she shook her head as they made their way into the palace. "Nothing enough to back up my suspicion, but the last time I saw her, she was doing alright," Lara stated, stopping in front of her door and folding her arms against her chest. Duncan halted, arching his brows with hands akimbo. "What are you insinuating?" "I am suspecting someone knows what happened to Evin. That is what I am insinuating and that someone is one of us," she whispered, throwing furtive glances around the hallway to ensure no one was watching. "Are you saying there might be a witch in our midst?" Duncan questioned further. Lara was about to speak, but she snapped her mouth shut when she caught sight of something a few meters away. Duncan traced her gaze to the shadow of someone approaching them, someone feminine. They walked quietly, only to see Calypso striding i
Duncan carried Erin in his arms, smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He got into their room and dropped her on the bed, planting a kiss on her forehead. "We are finally married, my love!" she beamed, clasping her hands around his neck."It feels too good to be true," he murmured, gazing into her eyes. "I kept thinking I would wake up and find it was all a dream.""Well, this is no dream," Erin replied, kissing him softly. "We are husband and wife at long last. We no longer have to hide to see each other.”Duncan furrowed his forehead as sadness washed over him. “What is wrong?” Erin questioned with concern. “I am sorry that I told my father I didn't know you when you were captured. I am sorry for thinking you killed my pack members and I am so sorry I let them throw you in the dungeon. I did it to protect you and I,” Duncan explained. “I-”Erin's touch lingered softly on Duncan's lips, a silent reassurance of her understanding and acceptance. "No more words, my dear,"
The absence of the one she had trusted most only deepened the sense of betrayal and left her trying to make sense of the harsh reality of the war that now raged within the very walls of her kingdom.Her world shattered as she witnessed the horrific scene unfolding before her eyes. “Mother, Father, Amelia!” She called their names, running to through the chaos in search of her family. She goes into battle with the werewolves and saw Emyrn.“What? You are here? Where is Amelia?” She asked.“Fighting on the other side,” Emryn said as he took down the wolves with his magic powers.“Hold them in as much as possible…let me check up on my parents," she said running to her parents chamber.The sight of the caramel-skinned witch she had seen at Duncan's pack, bewitching Lara through the mirror that night terrified her. Erin's heart sank when her eyes fell to the witch’s hand gripping the dagger that had pierced her father’s heart, sending waves of anguish coursing through her. She screamed i
Duncan's povDuncan wondered what was happening to him. For the first time, his primal wolf kept telling him to trust Erin. It was persistent that he was mistaken, but hem remained steadfast in his refusal to heed to the fact Erin might be innocent, not entirely innocent, but not as eveil as he thought she is. His mind came back to his father who had just called him. “Why is dad suddenly decided on going to war with the vampires?” He thought as he entered the chamber.“Finally you are here. You made me wait for a while," Alpha Mirthon said. “Sorry for the inconvieniences I might have caused but father, why am I being summoned?” Duncan ask, pretending not to know. Of course he has to or else, that maid will be in trouble.“We are going to war, son” He announced, his voice evident that he is determined to carry out what he just said.Duncan’s bro furrowed in confusion as he process his father ‘s words once again, hoping his father will say it is a prank but his ffather is not the kin
111.She turned to the sound of the footsteps but heard the person pulling back. “Duncan?” She wished it was him for a second but when she remembered what happened earlier, she got rid of that wishful thinking.She is more than devastated and a tear rolls down her cheek when she recalls how he avoided her gaze. The guards were pulling her away, past the scarred walls and the torches mounted on the walls but he was not looking. She began to have different thoughts. If anything were to happen to her while coming, the least she could expect to happen is Duncan denying knowing her. She should have just stuck to Mark. This wouldn't have happened if she listened to him when he told her to end things with Duncan. She looked around the dungeon and realized it was a dimly lit cell and she was still in the same position as she was when she was tossed into it. She turned, banging on the iron bars."Let me go!" She cried out, her voice hoarse with anguish. But her words fell on deaf ears, swall
Erin’s heart skipped a beat and she rose to her feet dusting her dress. While she expected to see so many guards, she was glad that it was only a guard. “I am asking again and I won’t repeat, who are you?” The guards took a stance to fight her but she chuckled.With a calm demeanor, she met the guard's gaze, her voice steady despite finding it amusing that the guard was ready to take her on a one-on-one battle.“Okay fine… I am a lycan princess. I heard the Alpha’s palace is here and has a great view. I came to see if it is true or not and it looks like it is true. Either way, I am leaving now” She said, and watched as the guard's stance shifted, his muscles tensed as he took in her words. She held her breath, hoping against hope that her explanation would be enough to quell any further suspicion."Trust me," she continued, her tone earnest. "I meant no trouble, and I am going now." She said pointing to where she came in from.“Ha… Think you can fool me?” He said howling loudly. His
Erin's heart sank as she stood there, reeling from Duncan's abrupt leaving without hearing her out. "What am I supposed to do now?" she wondered, feeling lost and frustrated at the same time. Suddenly, her thoughts were shattered by a jolt as Lola's mind link flooded her consciousness with unexpected news. "Amelia found?!" Erin gasped, her mind racing. She turned instinctively in the direction Duncan had taken, taking one last glance as though wishing he emerge again from the shadows but it was just wishful thinking. Unable to follow him, she made a swift decision to return to Nebramos to confirm the miraculous news herself. She arrived at Nebramos at the break of dawn and was met with a scene of utter chaos. The maids were in a frenzy, their cries of anguish piercing the morning air. The whole palace was chaotic. She frowned and rushed in with curiosity but the maids were weeping so loud that they did not notice her coming. "What's happening here?" she asked, grabbing one of the
Duncan's pov"Trespasser?" The alpha asks, and Duncan frowns in confusion as he looks at alpha Mirthon, his dad. “How can there be a trespasser around by this time?” Alpha Mirthon asked."It is a female vampire." The guard announces.Duncan's heart started to thump really hard in his chest. How could that be?“We should all go and see who the trespasser is now, shouldn't we?” Duncan rushes outside only to see guards holding Erin's hands. Anger bubbles in him to see her in such a state. “i warned you.” He said to himself internally. How could she get herself into such a mess because he warned her to stay away from his kingdom because he knew that once she was caught, it would be difficult for her to escape. He even knew about her killing his people, but he still gave her a way of escaping, but how could she mess it all up and let herself get caught by his people.Erin, however, did not seem to understand the situation she was in because she kept struggling with the guards who held he
Duncan's povHe watched her through the woods and once he was sure that it was her, he called out her name and she turned around to face him, confirming his suspicions."Erin?" His throat ran dry. His heart felt broken and he hated how he hadn't noticed it earlier that she had been the one killing his pack members.His heart pace increased and he stared at her whilst having many questions at the back of his mind. Why would she do this? And how could she? Although they were mates, he also had an obligation to his people, his pack. How could she do this to him? How could she betray him after everything they'd gone through?“Why… Erin? Why?”“I have no clue what you're talking about.” Duncan touched his heart, feeling his heart break every second she gave him an answer he didn't like.“Why did you betray me?” He asked. His love for Erin could not blind that she had done something intensively horrid. He never would have thought she would do something like this but with all evidences in h
The young werewolf breathed his last, and as soon as he did, Erin escaped from underneath him, causing his fur to land on the dusty ground. Erin breathed and watched the werewolf while his last words bothered her repeatedly. Necromancer. What did he mean?Erin covered the eyes of the werewolf and said a quick prayer to the moon to help him rest in peace.Whatever was chasing him seemed to have been very powerful. For him to die that easily.Then she thought of herself. She herself was bleeding, and the young werewolf's blood would soon catch the prey's attention in this area. Staying in this open area was not good for her. Still, she weighed her thoughts as she stood there concernedly.As the werewolf fully transformed into his human form, Erin was sure that he was dead. She looked at his eyes that she'd covered while in his wolf form, but they were wide open now, which made Erin aware that whoever this man had seen was definitely a dangerous creature.She quickly peered around her